GenTek Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results; Posts An 18 Percent Increase in Revenue and a 42 Percent Improvement in Adjusted EBITDA


PARSIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 10, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GenTek Inc. (Nasdaq:GETI) today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008. For the third quarter of 2008, GenTek had revenues totaling $178.7 million and operating profit of $17.4 million, after a $0.9 million restructuring charge. This compares to revenues of $151.3 million and operating profit of $20.4 million in the prior-year period, after a gain on disposition of long-term assets of $10.1 million and income from pension curtailments net of restructuring and impairment charges of $0.9 million. Strong revenue and operating profit results in the performance chemicals segment were partly offset by weakness in the valve actuation systems segment and the industrial wire market. The Company recorded income from continuing operations of $7.3 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $8.6 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2007.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, GenTek had revenues totaling $492.0 million and operating profit of $37.7 million. This compares to revenues of $465.7 million and operating profit of $47.6 million for 2007. The shortfall in operating profit was primarily due to the gain on disposition of long-term assets recorded in 2007. From a business perspective strong revenue and gross profit results from the performance chemicals segment more than offset reduced sales and gross profit in the valve actuation systems segment driven by the continued downturn in the North American automotive market. The Company had income from continuing operations of $17.0 million, or $1.55 per diluted share in 2008, compared to income from continuing operations of $17.7 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, in the comparable prior-year period.

The Company had $8.3 million of cash and $238.0 million of debt outstanding as of September 30, 2008. There was no debt outstanding under the Company's revolving credit facility.

For the third quarter of 2008, adjusted EBITDA was $25.8 million which was up $7.6 million from the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter was impacted by continued strength in the performance chemicals segment which more than offset results in the valve actuation systems segment resulting from weakness in automotive market demand. Performance chemicals continues to benefit from strong pricing across nearly all markets.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, adjusted EBITDA was $65.2 million which is essentially flat with the prior-year period. Year to date adjusted EBITDA was driven primarily by the strength in the performance chemicals segment which offset weakness in the valve actuation systems segment.

"We are very pleased with the results that Performance Chemicals delivered in the quarter. We expect this trend to continue for the remainder of the year. Driven by the continued erosion of the North American automotive market we are continuing with our aggressive program in the valve actuation systems segment to reduce costs and right size the business. At the same time, we continue to focus on new business awards in Europe, South America and North America, beginning in 2009," said William E. Redmond, Jr. GenTek's President and CEO.

Adjusted EBITDA

The Company has presented adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA) as a measure of operating results. Adjusted EBITDA reflects removing the impact of any restructuring, impairment, income from discontinued operations and certain one-time items. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measure, and, as such, a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income is provided in the attached Schedule 2. GenTek has presented adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental financial measure as a means to evaluate performance of the Company's business. GenTek believes that, when viewed with GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliation, it provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting the Company's business than the GAAP results alone. In addition, the Company understands that adjusted EBITDA is also a measure commonly used to value businesses by its investors and lenders.

About GenTek Inc.

GenTek provides specialty inorganic chemical products and valve actuation systems and components for automotive and heavy duty/commercial engines. GenTek operates over 50 manufacturing facilities and technical centers and has approximately 1,500 employees.

GenTek's 2,000-plus customers include many of the world's leading manufacturers of cars and trucks, and heavy equipment, in addition to global energy companies and water treatment facilities. Additional information about the Company is available at www.gentek-global.com.

The GenTek Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3295

Forward-looking statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein may constitute forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Although we believe that our assumptions made in connection with the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurances that these assumptions and expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these expectations include, among others, our outstanding indebtedness and leverage; the impact of the restrictions imposed by our indebtedness; our ability to fund and execute our business plan; potential adverse developments with respect to our liquidity or results of operations; the high degree of competition in certain of our businesses, and the potential for new competitors to enter into those businesses; continued or increased price pressure in our markets; customers and suppliers seeking contractual and credit terms less favorable to us; our ability to maintain customers and suppliers that are important to our operations; our ability to attract and retain new customers; the impact of possible substantial future cash funding requirements for our pension plans, including if investment returns on pension assets are lower than assumed; the impact of any possible failure to achieve targeted cost reductions; increases in the cost of raw materials, including energy and other inputs used to make our products; future modifications to existing laws and regulations affecting the environment, health and safety; discovery of unknown contingent liabilities, including environmental contamination at our facilities; suppliers' delays or inability to deliver key raw materials; breakdowns or closures of our or certain of our customers' plants or facilities; inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage or the terms thereof; domestic and international economic conditions, fluctuations in interest rates and in foreign currency exchange rates; the cyclical nature of certain of our businesses and markets; the potential that actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used by management in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements; future technological advances which may affect our existing product lines; the potential exercise of our Tranche B and Tranche C warrants and other events could have a substantial dilutive effect on our common stock; and other risks detailed from time to time in our SEC reports. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur.



                                                            Schedule 1

                             GenTek Inc.
                Consolidated Statement of Operations
              (In Millions except per share amounts)(1)

                                 Three     Three      Nine      Nine
                                 Months    Months    Months    Months
                                 Ended     Ended      Ended     Ended
                                Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
                                  2008      2007      2008      2007


 Revenues                       $  178.7  $  151.3  $  492.0  $  465.7
 Cost of sales                     147.6     128.7     412.7     388.1
 Selling, general and
  administrative expense            12.9      13.2      38.6      38.7

 (Gains) losses on disposition
  of long-term assets               (0.0)    (10.1)      1.6     (10.0)
 Restructuring and impairment
  charges                            0.9       1.7       1.4       4.6
 Pension curtailment and
  settlement (gains)/losses           --      (2.6)     (0.0)     (3.3)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Operating profit                   17.4      20.4      37.7      47.6
 Interest expense, net               4.0       5.4      12.3      17.4
 Other (income)/expense, net         0.7       0.0       0.3      (0.2)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Income from continuing
  operations before income taxes    12.7      15.0      25.1      30.4

 Income tax provision                5.4       6.4       8.1      12.8
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Income/(loss) from continuing
  operations                         7.3       8.6      17.0      17.7
 Income/(loss) from 
  discontinued operations 
  (net of tax benefit)                --       0.6        --      (6.7)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Net income/(loss)              $    7.3  $    9.2  $   17.0  $   11.0
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Weighted average common shares     10.1      10.4      10.1      10.3
 Weighted average common and
  equivalent shares                 10.9      11.5      11.0      11.6

 Income/(loss) per common share
  - basic:
 Income/(loss) from continuing
  operations                    $   0.72  $   0.83  $   1.68  $   1.71
 Income/(loss) from 
  discontinued operations             --      0.06        --     (0.65)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Net income/(loss)              $   0.72  $   0.89  $   1.68  $   1.06
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Income/(loss) per common share
  - assuming dilution:
 Income/(loss) from continuing
  operations                    $   0.67  $   0.75  $   1.55 $    1.52
 Income/(loss) from 
  discontinued operations             --      0.05        --     (0.58)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
 Net income/(loss)              $   0.67  $   0.80  $   1.55  $   0.95
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 (1) Totals may differ slightly from the sum of the respective line
     items due to rounding.


                                                            Schedule 2

                             GenTek Inc.
           Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
                            (In Millions)
                             (Unaudited)

                                         Three Months     Nine Months
                                             ended           ended
                                           Sept. 30,       Sept. 30,
                                         2008    2007    2008    2007
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------

 Net income                             $  7.3  $  9.2  $ 17.0  $ 11.0

 Restructuring and impairment charges      0.9     1.7     1.4     4.6
 Pension curtailment and settlement
  (gains)/losses                            --    (2.6)   (0.0)   (3.3)
 (Gains)/losses on disposition of
  long-term assets                        (0.0)  (10.1)    1.6   (10.0)
 Income tax                                5.4     6.4     8.1    12.8
 Net interest                              4.0     5.4    12.3    17.4
 Depreciation & amortization(1)            8.2     8.8    24.8    26.3
 (Income)/loss from discontinued
  operations                                --    (0.6)     --     6.7
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------

 Adjusted EBITDA                        $ 25.8  $ 18.2  $ 65.2  $ 65.3
                                        ======  ======  ======  ======

 (1) Depreciation and amortization excludes amortization of financing
     costs which are included in interest expense.

            

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